GRUPPO ABELE’S MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

Gruppo Abele is a non-governmental organization founded in Turin in 1965 with the purpose to share

and find solutions to problems and issues of social exclusion.

All along its history, Gruppo Abele has been interpreting the condition of being a citizen starting from

the contradictions we can notice in the street, that is seen as a place of isolation but at the same time as

a space where relationships and meetings take place. The street represents, symbolically and

materially, the deepest hardship and the most difficult situations of exclusion: drugs, AIDS, alcoholism,

mental illness, prostitution, homelessness, immigration, but also a place where culture, proposals for

change and attention to prevention can find their space. In addition to supporting those who have

more difficulties, Gruppo Abele’s activity has developed in three simultaneous lines of action: social,

cultural and political, combining reception areas for people in need with initiatives of prevention,

training, and information.

The underlying belief is that services cannot be the only answer to situations of distress but it is also

necessary to stimulate a new cultural approach to the problems that affect our social context and

generate exclusion and marginalization.

GRUPPO ABELE: A GENERAL OVERVIEW

Gruppo Abele is structured in four different departments: vulnerability and victims, residential care

and drop-in centres, education and publishing sector.

The departments manage 40 different activities and projects in order to implement tailored paths

leading away from hardships and marginalization.

First-help services

Gruppo Abele’s first-help services are varied and include:

- Drop- in centers for vulnerable people;

- Residential care for people with drug and alcohol addiction problems and people living with

HIV/AIDS;

- shelters for the homeless;

- residential care for mothers with children in difficult situations;

- legal support to migrants;

- integration paths for women victims of human trafficking as envisaged by article 18 and 13 of

the National Law on Migration;

- support to victims of crime.

Other activities

� Education

Gruppo Abele has implemented various projects in the field of education, ranging from targeted

policies against school dropout, to peer relationships and addiction prevention. Gruppo Abele works

constantly with schools, providing training on specific themes. Many activities are also targeted at

students’ parents and teachers with the aim of building citizens’ awareness.

� Family

An important area is dedicated to italian and migrants families through several activities such as

language courses, childcare and support groups. Every Tuesday Gruppo Abele organizes meetings on

different issues that have involved 1800 people.

� Research

In order to support and integrate its counseling and rehabilitation actions, Gruppo Abele has

implemented many cultural initiatives: a Study Research and Documentation Centre and a specialised

library, a training agency named “Università della Strada”, a publishing house (“Edizioni Gruppo

Abele”, with a catalogue of about 100 titles), as well as monthly periodicals (Narcomafie, Animazione

Sociale).

� International cooperation

In 2001 Gruppo Abele was recognized as a NGO for its development cooperation projects in Cote

d'Ivoire and Mexico.

Commitment to international cooperation focuses primarily on the creation of projects promoting and

supporting change processes in contexts dominated by situations of injustice and insecurity.

� Employment

Gruppo Abele also collaborates with Consorzio Abele Lavoro, a consortium that offers an educational

space and real and concrete possibilities of reintegration into social life to more than 500 people, and

tries to consolidate a type of economy that could be more favorable to the most vulnerable population.

Gruppo Abele’s network

In the logic of bringing together skills and competences to better address problems, Gruppo Abele is at

present part of: CNCA (National Coordination Committee of Hospitality network), LILA (Italian League

for the Fight against AIDS), Libera (Associations, Names and Numbers against mafias), Banca Etica,

Forum del Terzo settore, CNND (National Coordination against New Drugs), CICA ( Italian

Coordination of Residential Facilities for people living with HIV/AIDS), Italian Centre of Mediation,

ECPAT, Caritas’ National Co-group against human trafficking, inter-regional co-group against human

trafficking.

Gruppo Abele’s campaigns

� Riparte il futuro

Promoted by Gruppo Abele and Libera, “Riparte il Futuro” is the largest digital campaign against

corruption ever organized in Italy. The goal of this civil and political campaign, is to fight one of the

most serious problems afflicting Italy, a problem that penalizes the daily lives of all Italians.

For more information: http://www.riparteilfuturo.it/

� Miseria Ladra

This is a campaign promoted by Gruppo Abele and Libera with the aim to eliminate poverty and place

the need for improvement in welfare, social policies, integration and public investments at the centre

of public and political debates. For more information: http://www.miserialadra.it/

� Illuminiamo la salute

‘Illuminiamo la Salute’ is a joint project involving Libera, Gruppo Abele, Coripe and Avviso Pubblico. It

includes National Health Service workers and aims at improving legality and ethics and preventing

corruption within the health care system. For more information: http://www.illuminiamolasalute.it/

VICTIM SUPPORT

OFF

Introduction

Gruppo Abele has always dealt with the problem of violence in all

its aspects. Gender violence runs through many stories that we

come across daily.

In the nineties Gruppo Abele created OFF, the first project aimed

at victims of crime and violence, that was specifically focused on

gender violence.

Off Services

- Shelter for mothers and their children

Targeted to Italian and immigrant pregnant women or women

with children, who are victims of domestic violence or live in a

vulnerable social context, it offers: legal help, individual

psychological support, support groups, employment programs,

childcare.

- Drop house

It is a centre for vulnerable Italian and immigrant women and

their children (with or without documents) experiencing a

disadvantaged situation. The centre offers childcare, cultural

activities, computer literacy courses, Italian language courses in

order to make the women aware of the opportunities offered

locally.

- Oltre lo specchio (Beyond the mirror)

A help desk for transgender people or people undergoing gender

transition that daily face social exclusion from family and society.

Psychological and physical violence are often present in their

lives.

“Oltre lo specchio” offers legal help, employment programs,

psychological support, health-related services, shared

apartments.

- InTi legal help desk

Since 2002 this help desk has offered legal help to victims of

crime, gender violence and human trafficking. It also organizes

training for police officers, social and health workers on the

issues of violence.

- Mediation of conflict/ Restorative Justice

Gruppo Abele has been one of the first organization in Italy to

start mediation projects. The project are aimed young and adult

citizen in vulnerable district and schools.

RETE DAFNE (Dafne network)

“Victims of crime should be recognised and treated in a respectful,

sensitive and professional manner without discrimination of any

kind (…)” Directive 2012/29/UE

The purpose of Directive 2012/29/EU is to ensure that victims of crime receive information,

assistance and adequate protection and are allowed to participate in criminal proceedings.

The directive stresses the importance for the victims to receive information on the existing

services from the competent authority (police, healthcare workers, doctors) that acquires

therefore a key role in preventing a second type of victimization caused by the victims’ feeling

of being left alone.

For alle these reasons Gruppo Abele, in partnership with Turin Public Prosecutor's office,

province of Turin, Municipality of Turin, Turin public health service (ASLTO2), Ghenos

association has created “Rete Dafne”. This local network offers to the victims of crime legal

and psychological/psychiatric support and mediation of conflict in close collaboration with

the competent authorities. Moreover, Rete Dafne organizes several training addressed to

police officers, prosecutors, health and social care workers.

Gruppo Abele considers networking with public bodies and other local associations dealing

with the same issues absolutely fundamental. For this reason Gruppo Abele takes part in the

Local Consortium against Gender Violence (Coordinamento Cittadino e Provinciale contro la

Violenza sulle Donne) promoted by the Social Observatory of the Province of Turin. Gruppo

Abele’s network also involves police officers that meet vulnerable people daily, in order to

support the victims by providing legal and psychological help.

PROJECT ON PROSTITUTION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Introduction

Human trafficking can be defined as one of the most terrible violations of human rights and an offence

to the dignity and integrity of the human being.

Italy has taken a number of important steps to combat trafficking in human beings.

Gruppo Abele has taken part in this important process, showing its political commitment. This NGO

actually participated in theinter- ministerial forum that led to the drawing up, and subsequent

approval of Article 18 of the Immigration Act (1998).

This article states that the victims of human trafficking are entitled to apply for a residence permit by

following two procedures: a social path and a judicial path. They offer the victims of human trafficking

possible access to assistance and social integration projects that are run by NGOs.

At the moment the project on prostitution and human trafficking, offers the victims protection and

integration programmes through its many activities; it runs help desks where the victims can ask for

psychological and legal support, a shelter for victims of human trafficking and it organizes prevention

through outreach street work.

All Gruppo Abele’s initiatives are characterized by integration between cultural projects and political

commitment with plenty of attention given to information and training. Gruppo Abele provides

training on Trafficking in Human Beings for outreach workers, police officers and social workers. In

addition, Gruppo Abele’s Documentation Centre conducted several studies on the specific issue of

prostitution.

Services implemented

• Help desk

Gruppo Abele’s helpdesk is directed at victims of trafficking who arrive at Gruppo Abele after

contacting the national toll free number, while others are sent by the police, the local police, local

institutions and other NGOs, or are people who arrive by word of mouth of those who have already

used the service. The main objectives are: first support, accompaniment to services, counseling on

addressing the requests for help and the exploitative situations of the victims. After the first

interviews, the person is usually taken in charge and assisted throughout the process of social

protection, that includes: completion of regularization procedures, search for suitable labour and

housing resources, as well as other services for the whole period of the programme. The objectives

also include health protection, accompaniment to local social services and legal support,

accompaniment to the consulates of the victim’s country of origin; intercultural mediation;

psychological support to those who request it.

• Toll Free number (800 290 290)

This number was introduced in 2000 on the initiative of the Department for Equal Opportunities.

Gruppo Abele runs the Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta location with a 24-hour service in both regions. The

toll free number against trafficking offers opportunities for help not only to the victims of trafficking

and sexual exploitation but also to all men and women victims of labour exploitation and begging.

Over the last year, the Piedmont / Valle d'Aosta location has continued its collaboration with public

bodies and private social organizations in the region, the Police and public prosecutors.

• Help desk “Trampolino”

This support service assists victims of trafficking in the final phase of their social reintegration. It is

directed at those who have completed a reintegration programme in a community, or are living in the

area and have already started the process leading away from human trafficking. In both cases, the

people involved must already possess a residence permit.

The main objective of the service is to assist the people in the delicate phase of their “release” and help

them fit more easily into a completely different life. The support offered by the service aims at

increasing their independence, their professional and linguistic skills and self-confidence, encouraging

them to act against their greatest weaknesses (money management, maintaining a job, etc.).

• Legal help desk “InTi”

Gruppo Abele’s InTi legal service was established in 2002 to offer a complete and correct

interpretation of the national and international legislation concerning the protection of victims of

trafficking. This important service avails itself of the support of ASGI (association of lawyers

specialised in immigration issues). Over the years, the role of the service has gradually expanded and

changed to respond to constant modifications of immigration legislation. Designed to operate in

Piedmont, it is today a national benchmark for associations and organizations and it collaborates with

small and big associations and legal firms in Italy.

The services available are:

- Information on the current laws dealing with assistance to victims of trafficking and start-up of a

social reintegration process;

- Guidance to public and private local social services;

- Archive containing national and international case law material;

- Publication of texts examining in detail the issues pertaining to art.18 and the norms about

immigration;

- Organization of training and seminars targeted to a wide range of beneficiaries, from migrants to

local organizations, associations and other relevant stakeholders;

- Advice to local and national associations dealing with assistance and support to migrants and victims

of trafficking.

• Casa Gabriela

Casa Gabriela was established in 2001 to meet the needs emerged from the toll-free number and

increase the sheltered housing available in the city, given the shortage of this type of resource. The

service is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week, including holidays. Gabriela is therefore a

protected shelter and an emergency housing facility that can be the basis for a social inclusion project.

The available places are maximum 7. Casa Gabriela aims to support and assist people in the first part

of their new path in life out of the street. During that period the women will get used to the rhythms of

“normal” life and experiment shared home management. At this stage the women are also

accompanied to different health services for medical examinations and in order to complete the legal

procedures for identity documents and residence permits. The community offers: accompaniment to

health services for medical examinations; accompaniment to administrative offices and / or the Police

for the formalities requested to obtain identity documents and residence permits; intercultural

mediation services; organization of Italian classes, practical workshops, basic computer courses;

leisure activities.

• Street Unit

The activity, founded in 2007, organizes two weekly outings with a social worker, a mediator (of a

nationality compatible with the nationalities of the people present the area) and a driver.

Gruppo Abele’s Street Unit monitors the phenomenon in order to obtain immediate information about:

places involved, the women’s cyclical changes of place and movements ,forms of sexual exploitation,

living and working conditions of migrants victims of forced prostitution, new nationalities involved in

the prostitution market.

In particular, the Street Unit offers:

- Health information through appropriate educational material in different languages;

- Distribution of medical supplies;

- Distribution of relief supplies;

- Individual support through guidance to local services and opportunities, accompaniment to health

and social care services and support in the procedure for obtaining an health card;

- Accompaniment to Gruppo Abele's services: help desk and legal and psychological support.

YOUTH (PIANO GIOVANI)

Since its start, Gruppo Abele has been working with young people, organizing training and prevention

initiatives in schools and different areas of the municipality of Turin. In 2000, Gruppo Abele created a

specific working group, Piano Giovani,t hat is responsible for coordinating, designing and

implementing actions targeted to young people. Such activities extend in different directions and cover

several areas: schools, the street, youth policies, prevention projects and adult training. Piano

Giovani’s mission is to help developing individual skills and resources, support the youth on their

progress towards independence, enhance their importance and potential in local and national contexts

by encouraging their participation in local communities.

Activities in schools

Interventions in schools are managed by Settore Scuola with the aim to create an integrated path where

the different stakeholders (teachers, parents, students, families, local bodies) interact in an educational

context. The team has involved 2000 students in 49 different schools, 540 teachers and about 100

families.

Educators and trainers run various activities on specific issues: school dropouts, prevention of old and

new addictions (i.e new technologies, online social networking, gambling), relationships (conflicts,

emotions, and lifestyle). We aim to act as a support for all the people involved in the education system,

in an attempt to enhance the role of education at a social level.

The ‘Settore Scuola’ is constantly working with the municipality of Turin, local bodies, authorities, and

other associations like Libera and Save the Children in order to network with different institutions. In

2015 a free after-school service will be opened in the premises of Gruppo Abele in order to prevent

early school leaving.

Educational street work

Settore Strada operates in Barriera di Milano, an urban area mainly populated by immigrants.

The work on the street allows the team (one educator and two mediators) to meet and follow a large

number of children and adolescents, about 1340, at risk of dropping out, hardship and social exclusion.

Educational activities start from accompaniment to local service and school support to recreation

(soccer tournaments, volleyball and other free activities). The team also provides information on how

to have access to scholarships or work. An important part of the work on the street is the possibility to

meet the adolescents’ families in order to have an impact on more levels.

Youth policies

Piano Giovani’s youth policies are focused on two main ideas: implementation of concrete actions

promoting new models of citizenship for the youth and the establishment of multidisciplinary

relationships enabling us to experiment new forms of local social economy.

According to the first main idea special attention is given to real-life contexts where recognition of

rights, citizenship, participation and access to information, are the core of our commitment that is

shown through the delicate task of building social cohesion.

Our commitment in the construction of citizenship targeted to the youth is aimed at enhancing the

relevance of young people in local and national contexts by stimulating their participation in the life of

local communities through innovative strategies and synergies between youth and adults.

The main activities are:

- development and implementation of youth policy interventions involving public bodies in informal

and formal working groups;

- training for trainers and educators interacting with young people;

- training for administrators, in order to build shared paths about youth policies, that will bring

together personal development and social and economic development in the areas involved.

The second main idea focuses on the promotion of social economies and relationships between

citizens. The main aim is to build projects implementing actions managed by young people, which will

produce resources and tools and will also promote processes of social cohesion. Actions have to be

taken at a local level in order to reduce inequalities and introduce a powerful change.

Together with the Emilia Romagna region Piano Giovani has experimented a structured path that has

put into practice this kind of approach. It involves local administrators and young citizens who are

working together on local issues. The main point considered is what young people can bring to the

community in terms of social innovation.

Piano Giovani works in this direction with several activities: it assists groups that launch experimental

experiences in different areas, meets various organizations working in this field and promotes

networking between them and local administrations. It also produces written materials and reflections

on this issue and involves foundations in financing projects.

ADDICTION SERVICES

Introduction

Gruppo Abele provides a range of services for people who are affected by drug addiction and

alcoholism.

Gruppo Abele’s mission is to support people experiencing situations of vulnerability and help them to

improve the quality of their lives, in collaboration with public and private services and associations

operating in the field of health promotion.

Specific services

Help desk

The addiction service, that has been operating in Turin since

1973, is aimed at all those who are facing different types of

hardships. The service is open to people with addiction

problems of every kind (drugs, gambling, internet, alcohol)

and offers help to their families as well.

After the first contact by phone or directly at the help desk,

an appointment will usually follow during which we will

explore the person’s individual story in more detail and

offer, if necessary, access to a rehabilitation path for the

individual, with the possible involvement of other family

members.

Drop-in service

This service receives homeless or addicted people and

meets their basic needs (shower, needle exchange, food).

The staff also offer support and individual counselling. Most

of the people using this service are young male migrants. In

2014 the service received about 2500 people.

Residential treatment centers

• Drug Crisis Centre - It is a centre for the observation

of the people needing urgent assistance and support,

with a severe clinical condition related to addiction.

• Cascina Abele – It is a therapeutic community for

drug addicted couples, also with children, who need a

rehabilitation treatment.

• Cascina Nuova – It is a therapeutic community for

people with an alcohol addiction problem. It is run by

Aliseo, an association that, in collaboration with

Gruppo Abele, offers support and a rehabilitation

treatment to alcoholists.

• Cascina Tario – It hosts people with AIDS or HIV

positive people who live in a condition of extreme

distress.

• Apartments – they are offered to people who have already experimented residential care and

would like to experience more independence.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Gruppo Abele has been present for 32 years in the city of Grand Bassam in Ivory Coast with a project

addressed to young people that live in highly disadvantage conditions. The project also involves the

entire population of Grand Bassam through various cultural and support activities.

In 2011 Gruppo Abele has started a cooperation project in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico with the

collaboration of Sikanda, a non governmental organization founded in 2009. Gruppo Abele and

Sikanda work with vulnerable families and social groups like the pepenadores: informal waste pickers

who live and work in the city dumps.

MISSION

Gruppo Abele’s mission is to improve people’s lives, to eliminate discriminations and inequalities, to

protect and promote disadvantaged people’s rights, to support education and training people living in

difficult social context, with particular attention to women and children, create a network with NGOs

and local associations that share our aims, to bring together different cultures and enhance the

exchange of knowledge.

ACTIVITIES

IVORY COAST

Communauté Abel is Gruppo Abele’s first international project, founded in Grand Bassam in 1983 to

contribute to give new dignity to the weakest. Communauté Abel’s was founded with the Ministry of

Justice’s collaboration and its main aim is to improve education through cultural initiatives,

counselling services, educational programs, professional training for boys and girls aged 14-21.

Besides its work in Grand Bassam’s different areas and district Communauté Abel works through three

different branches:

• The Carrefour Jeunesse, a place where kids and adolescents meet to play. Over the years it has become

a landmark for the whole community of Grand Bassam, not to mention a means of opportunity and

risk prevention for youth thanks to its numerous social, educational, cultural, and sports

initiatives;

• The Centre Abel which provides professional training in woodworking, agriculture and

farming and housing to its occupants and it is 7 km (4.34 miles) from downtown Grand Bassam

on an area of 24 hectares (60-acre), close to the lagoon;

• The Center for Documentation and Research, a permanent window for observation, analysis

and needs’ identification of the context where we work. The CDRF conducts outreach to

villages and schools by organizing debates, plans prevention and awareness meetings.

MEXICO

Since 2011 Gruppo Abele has been present in Oaxaca that one of the poorest states, with the second

lowest Human Development Index in the country.

Gruppo Abele collaborates with the organization Solidaridad Internacional Kanda AC (SiKanda)

through projects and activities adressed to pepenadores, the informal waste pickers who live and work

in the city dumps and to vulnerable families and disadvantaged schools.

ACTIVITIES

Gruppo Abele and Sikanda promote environmental education and its protection through school

gardens, recycling and upcycling activities transforming organic garbage into fertile soil through

vermicompost.

These activities involve 7.500 direct beneficiaries Valles Centrales and Mixteca regions and in Oaxaca

State.

The main aim is to fight against discrimination and empowerment of marginalized groups, to promote

in public policies in order to enhance poor communities’ lives and reduce social exclusion.

Wormculture project

The project aims to improve solid waste management and promote inclusive recycling in the

Huajuapan de León Municipality through partnerships between local government, civil society and

informal recyclers. The project enhances the community protection of the environment, improves

health conditions of the population, promotes the social inclusion of Pepenadores and improves their

income through the production of worm compost.